John Jay Beats Greeley and Builds Legacy to end Season

On Friday November 2 John Jay suited up for Horace Greeley, and for seniors like Luca Duva, the finality was inescapable. “The last night of playing football, I left my heart on the field,” said the running back, and together, the Wolves didn’t let all the emotion go untapped.

John Jay scored first, and in securing a 21-7 victory, Christian Herlihy tied a bow on his career. “I feel like I completed my time here,” said the senior lineman, “and ended on a good note.”

Nonetheless, the game began with both teams getting off to slow starts on the offensive end. Greeley went three and out, and John Jay just went three. Tommy Machado threw a third down interception, but Greeley didn’t take long to return the favor.

James Arefieg got a pick on the next play, and the Wolves were set up at the Quaker 30. A couple of no gains and a five yard Tommy Machado scramble had the looks of a good opportunity wasted. But the QB hit a quick jump pass to Nick Russo, and the drive remained alive at the 20.

Jay wasn’t done with the fourth down conversions either. Going nowhere for three straight plays, Machado dropped back and hit Jack Marcogliese on the one. From there, Machado faked the hand off right, slipped left and went into the end zone untouched at 6:42.

Abel Berganza added the extra point and then was called on to sneak in an onside kick. Horace Greeley covered the surprise but not the fumble on the next play.

In turn, the John Jay offense didn’t answer back and neither did Greeley’s. The ball back to Jay, Machado executed a series of short passes and keepers to set John Jay up with a third down at the Greeley 48.

Marcogliese then went in motion, took Machado’s flip and carried the pile to the 40. On the move, Machado hit Patrick Ryan to the 30, but a botched handoff gave Greeley the ball.

No problem, Arefieg wasn’t going to let his last game be unremarkable. The ball went up and the cornerback came down with his second pick at the 50.

The offense couldn’t take advantage, though, and Greeley took over on downs at the 50. The Quakers had no reply either, and a third and 16 allowed Arefieg to step in yet again. The senior took a deep pass over the shoulder and had his third interception of the night.

The rest of the half had neither team getting very far and included a Machado fumble and a Sean Maddock interception for John Jay.

A script that continued into the second half. Three and outs to start for both teams, and worse for John Jay, a big turnover that allowed Greeley to get on the board. The Greeley punt not handled, the Quakers were set up ten yards away. Two plays later Alex Edenbaum was in the end zone, and the extra point tied the game at 8:03.

An abrupt turn of events, Duva put aside the arrhythmia and had Greeley skipping several beats instead. The senior converted a second and 14 to the 46 and then ran 54 yards to regain John Jay’s seven point lead.

Maybe awakened, Greeley did sustain a drive to the ten, but another fumble undid the visitors. That eventually left John Jay rising before the alarm went off. Machado hit Nick Russo on the right, he broke a tackle and ran 70 yards for the touchdown.

Essentially sealing the victory, the senior eyed a carry over. “I hope the boys are able to build off what we did at the end of the year versus Greeley and Clarkstown North,” said Russo.

An agenda that Coach Joe Candarelli set beforehand. “We talked with the guys about legacy. Their responsibility is to carry the torch for this group going forward,” he said. “The legacy of championship football is built on moments like this, and they did that tonight. I’m really proud,” he concluded.